Kurokabe Square: The Secret Street Of Shiga
Welcome to our special series where we will be introducing secret streets around the Kansai Region! Stay tuned to find out more about secret streets and don’t forget to hunt them down on your next trip to Kansai!
In this article we are introducing Kurokabe Square, a secret street in Shiga Prefecture where you can enjoy the historical landscapes, shops, restaurants, cafes, and even glass craftmanship!
📍Where is Shiga Prefecture?
Shiga Prefecture is located in the Kansai region, and borders Kyoto Prefecture to the west. Shiga is home to many amazing tourism resources but is often overshadowed by its neighbor, Kyoto. Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, is one example of Shiga’s resources. It is also home to Omi Beef, national treasure castles, and 37% of Shiga’s land are designated as natural parks!
🚗Traveling from Tokyo to Shiga
Bullet Train: Around 2hrs 30mins
Bus: Around 6hrs 30mins
Car: Around 5hrs
🚗Traveling from Osaka to Shiga
Car: Around a 50mins drive
Train: Shinkansen Bullet Train takes 36mins, other trains take around 1hr 15mins or more
🚗Traveling from Kyoto to Shiga
Car: Around a 15min drive
Train: Around 10mins to 23mins depending on the type of train
⭐Shiga Tourism Official Website: https://en.biwako-visitors.jp/ (English)
黒壁スクエア
Kurokabe Square
Kurokabe, which literally translates to ‘black wall’, is a sightseeing complex that uses existing historical structures near the Hokkoku Kaido Road flourished in the Edo period. The complex is dotted with around thirty facilities, such as shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes, and even glass crafting centers. The facility’s appeal point is that it uses warehouse and merchant houses built between the Edo and Meiji period.
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm
Contact: 0749-65-2330
Website: https://www.kurokabe.co.jp.e.aig.hp.transer.com/
Nearest Station: 長浜駅 (Nagahama Station)
📍 Kurokabe Square Map
Kurokabe Square’s Access
🚗
🚇Train: Get off at JR Nagahama Station（JR長浜駅）it is 10 minutes away on foot.
Nearby Attractions
⭐
黒壁一號館 黒壁ガラス館
Kurokabe Glass Shop
This shop specializes and sells everyday use dishes, vases and accessories on the first floor, and exhibits and sells imported glass sculptures and vases on the second floor.
Its seasonal displays are also highly reputed! Make sure to drop by!
⭐
黒壁二號館 黒壁ガラススタジオ
Kurokabe Glass Studio
This glass studio in Kurokabe Square exhibits and sells its own original glass products, and also allows its visitors to see their artists producing their masterpiece through glass windows. You can find artists engage in glassblowing on the first floor, and find glass engraving on the second floor, which is a technique brought in from overseas
Activities
⭐
黒壁十三號館 黒壁体験教室
Kurokabe Experience Class
A one-day hands-on class for making various glass works such as cups, dishes, straps and photo frames. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner because you’ll be able to enjoy it with the kind help of the instructors.
Reservation can be available on the day depending on the availability.
Opening Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Website: https://www.kurokabe.co.jp.e.aig.hp.transer.com/trial/
Reservation: https://kurokabe.jp/ (Only in Japanese)
Contact: 0749-65-1221
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/mK1M9uKWR52iducG9
Recommended Eats
⭐
カフェ 叶匠寿庵 長浜黒壁店
Cafe Kanoshojuan
Café Kanoshojuan is run by a Japanese sweets shop located in Otsu city. Not only do thy serve rare seasonal Japanese sweets, but they also serve western sweets using Japanese ingredients. Guests can also enjoy lunch with Omi beef here on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays!
Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Holidays: Wednesday
Website: https://kanou.com/gnaviplus/gnaviplus/nagahama/
Contact: 0749-65-0177
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/w8DMcJjMGmz84UYT9
⭐Take a walk around the beautiful and traditional historical landscape, explore the shops, taste the food, take a few photos and check it off your secret street checklist!
Secret Street Series
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[…] Kurokabe Square, which literally translates to ‘black wall square’, is a sightseeing complex that uses existing historical structures. The complex is dotted with around thirty facilities, such as shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes, and even glass crafting centers! The facility’s appeal point is that it uses warehouse and merchant houses built between the Edo and Meiji period (1603-1912). […]